Alpina occasionally undertakes development work for the BMW mothership, with projects ranging from the original X5 to the V8 for the last-generation M6 GT3. By and large, though, it expands its small but targeted engineering resources on making its own cars as good as they can be.
Real innovations in an engine, suspension, and driveline technologies have been part and parcel of Alpina's 57 years in existence and one of the most intriguing aspects of its new relationship with BMW will be how those resources will manifest in the years to come. For now, though, here are some of the marque's seminal models, with honourable mentions, also going to the E28-based B9 3.5 and E31-based B12 5.7.
3.0CSL 1971 £350,000-PLUS (NOW)
Some within Alpina describe the 1972 founding of BMW's M division as the mere 'sales instrument' for the lightweight racer that Alpina founder Burkard Bovensiepen and his team developed for the European Touring Car Championship. That's understandable. With the 3.0 CSL, BMW homologated Alpina's extreme package for the beefcake 2800 CS. The spec was confirmed in 1971, well before the 3.0 CSL was born, with modifications saving 215kg. Commercial reasons stopped Alpina alone from supplying the 1000 homologation cars, with M latterly stepping in. If you can find an Alpina 3.0 CSL, you've done well: of the 1265 cars BMW built, just 13 returned to Buchloe for further changes.
B62.81978-1981 £45,000-£60,000
Denne historien er fra August 03, 2022-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 03, 2022-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
MG 4
An EV changes your driving style - but not to the detriment of pleasure
PEUGEOT E-208
Time with our French hatch is up. Is it good riddance or au revoir?
In the hot seat
Is the best automotive job in the world actually in miniature scale? Hot Wheels' design boss assures STEPHEN DOBIE it is
Correcting the record
Autocar invented the road test back in 1928 - or did we? KEITH JONES trawls the past to find the true starting point
Road test rebooted
As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains
Cyber attack
MG is back on the international stage and now trying to return to its sports car roots. MATT SAUNDERS sees if the Cyberster EV can match up to a rival from the present and a relation from the past
KIA PICANTO
As rivals fall by the wayside, Kia's popular city car gets a makeover
MASERATI GRANTURISMO
Latest coupé in a long line of Maserati GT cars hits the UK with V6 power
PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS COUPE
New V8 model gets all the goodies
TOYOTA PRIUS
Back by popular demand with a cool new look and greater driver appeal